Sheet shingling apparatus



Oct. 2, 1962 F. w. WALSH SHEET SHINGLING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 2'7, 1958 Oct. 2, 1962 F. w. WALSH SHEET SHINGLING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2'7, 1958 Oct. 2, 1962 F. w. WALSH SHEET SHINGL-ING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 27, 1958 Oct. 2, 1962 F. w. WALSH 3,056,321

SHEET SHINGLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 27, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ite States Patent C 3,056,321 SHEET SHINGLIWG APPARATUS Francis W. Walsh, Susquehanna, Pa., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 27, 1958, Ser. No. 717,856 18 Claims. ((31. 83-110) This invention relates to apparatus for handling sheet material or similar flat articles and more particularly to such apparatus for separating sheets from a rapidly advancing web or strip and shingling and stacking the resulting sheets. The apparatus of the invention is especially well suited for separating freshly printed material issuing from a printing press and handling the material in such a way that the printing ink thereon is sufficiently dried before stacking is effected.

Apparatus for handling and stacking sheets separated from rapidly advancing strips of cold rolled steel or webs of paper, cardboard, plastics, textiles and the like have been available for many years. Such stacking apparatus have generally been relatively complex and cumbersome in operation and have also failed to provide means for the positive shingling of successive sheets while preventing inter-sheet contact prior to stacking, particularly when the sheets are formed of flexible paper or card material. For example, with previously available apparatus, interference between the leading edge of one sheet and the trailing edge of a previously separated sheet has been possible with the result that the performance thereof has left much to be desired. Such apparatus has also generally relied upon hit-or-miss shingling, i.e. overlapping of successive sheets.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus for cutting sheets from a rapidly advancing strip or web and positively shingling successive sheets without interference between the leading edge of one sheet, or the leading edge of the advancing strip or web, and the trailing edge of a sheet previously separated from the strip.

It is another object of the invention to provide improved apparatus for cutting sheets from a rapidly advancing web of printed material and positively shingling such sheets without contact with each other so that there is no contact between the sheets until they are sufficiently dry to prevent smudging when they are stacked.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a cutting, shingling and stacking apparatus embodying the invention taken along the line 11 of FIG. 6 from the point of View indicated;

FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and S are diagrammatic perspective views of the shingling assembly, forming a part of the apparatus of P16. 1 in various stages of operation;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view, partially in section from the point of view of the left hand end of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a horizontal shingling disk;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the horizontal shingling disk; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the horizontal shingling disk taken through the line 9-9 of FIG. 7.

The apparatus of the invention, schematically represented in the drawings, provides unique advantages in the handling of flexible sheet material, such as that from which punch cards or the like are formed, issuing as a rapidly advancing freshly printed web from a printing press. Referring now to the drawing, a suitable web 3,956,3Zl Patented Oct. 2, 1962 ice cutting means may be provided in the form of a rotary cutter comprising two parallel rolls, 11 and 12, spaced slightly apart to allow web 13 to pass between them. Roll 12 is provided with a cutting edge 14 extending along its surface. Roll 11 is provided with a cutting seat 15 adapted to engage the cutting edge 14 of roll 12 and shear the web 13 to sever card forming portions 42 therefrom.

The web 13, after passing between the rolls of the rotary cutter, is supported in its plane of travel by a pair of metal rods 16 or equivalent means, the forward edges of which are preferably depressed from the plane of travel of the web as shown. A card shingling assembly 17 is mounted on frame 18 to receive the advancing web 13 and pass on the severed portions 42 thereof to a conveyor assembly 19. A yieldable or flexible backstop 20 is also mounted on frame 18 beyond the conveyor assembly 19 and is spaced from a ledge 36 beneath the shingling assembly 17 to form an opening for receiving the length of the cards to be cut.

In the present instance, the shingling assembly 17 is mounted beyond the severing line of the rolls 11 and 12 of the rotary cutter a distance equal to half the length of the cards to be cut and shingled. This assembly includes a pair of horizontal shingling disks 21 mounted for rotation in a plane parallel to the plane of web 13, a pair of vertical shingling disks 22 mounted normal to disks 21, and a vertical restraining disk 23. Disks 22, 23 are mounted on a common drive shaft 24 in spaced relationship, with restraining disk 23 positioned between the pair of disks 22. Disks 22 are each geared to one of the disks 21 by means of a respective one of a pair of bevel gears 4-3, mounted on drive shaft 24, which engage bevel gears 44 mounted on shafts 25. Disks 21 are each fixed on one of the shafts 25 and are each juxtaposed to one of the disks 22 so that the rim of the latter overlays a peripheral portion of the face of the former presented toward the path of web 13. As will be more fully pointed out, the paired disks 21, 22 are positioned so as to receive the longitudinal edge portions of web 13.

Each of the disks 22 has an portion of reduced radius forming a step 26 on one side and a somewhat shallower step 27 on its opposite side, steps 26 and 27 being 180 apart.

The restraining disk 23 has a projection 28 formed on its rim while the remainder thereof has a diameter such that it does not interfere with the forward advance of web 13 or the portions severed therefrom but does prevent bowing of the said portion thereof. Disk 22 and disk 23 are positioned on drive shaft 24 with steps 26 in alignment and aligned with or somewhat in advance of projection 28. A ledge 36 is positioned so that the advancing web passes between it and disk 23. Ledge 36 has a groove 37 formed therein through which projection 28 passes as it is rotated. Disks 21 are best illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 where only the one, the right hand one as viewed in FIGS. 2-6, is shown. It will be noted that the working surface, the upper surface as shown in FIG. 2 of the right hand disk 21 is formed diametrically opposite to the working surface of the left hand disk 21. They are preferably formed by milling a. metal blank, although the various portions of the disks may be made separately and assembled. Each disk 21 may suitably have a hub 29 and a thicker rim portion, the latter including a flat or planar section 34) and a portion of gradually increasing thickness forming a ramp 381. Ramp 31 terminates in a flat portion 32 having a beveled surface 33 facing a notch 35 formed in the rim of the disk. The flat portion 32 of ramp 31 is somewhat wider than the remainder of the rim of disk 21, its outer edge projecting outwardly and having a beveled surface 34. Disks 21 are each fixed on its shaft 25 so that when it and the juxtaposed disk 22 rotate, the increased diameter portion of the latter rides over the flat rim portion 30 of the former and notch 35 registers with step 26 with the raised end of ramp 31 more or less nesting in the notch formed by the step 26.

The conveyor assembly 19 includes two sets of elongated vanes 38, each set mounted on one or more endless chains 39. The endless chains 39 are driven in the directions indicated in FIG. 6 by means of sprockets 40 and gears which mesh with worms fixed to drive shaft 41. The individual vanes 38 are formed with shoulders 45 and spaced on the chains 39 so that the free inner edge of each vane 38 extends beyond the shoulder 45 of the preceding vane on the chain when the chain is straightened. The two opposed sets of vanes 38 are spaced apart to accommodate the width of cards 42 exiting from the shingling assembly 17. The opposed courses of chains 39 are spaced so that the sets of vanes 33 accommodate the width of cards 42, the edges of which rest on the shoulders 45 of a set of vanes.

With the axes of disks 21, 22 and 23 spaced from the cutter a distance equal to half of the card or severed portion 42 of web 13 the rim portions of disks 21 along which the edges of the cards ride has a circumference equal to the length of the card and the increased diameter portions of disks 22 each has a peripheral extent equal to half the length of a card. Disks 21, 22 and 23 as well as chains 3% may be driven by any suitable means and as shown, drive shaft 24 is linked with shaft 41 through suitable gears and is readily connected to a suitable power source.

In operation a rapidly advancing freshly printed web 13, fed by means not shown is passed between rolls l1 and 12 of the rotary cutter and onto the metal rods 16 which serve to guide the web into the card shingling assembly 17. The leading edge of the web 13 advances to beyond the metal rods 16 over the ledge 36 and is initially contacted at its longitudinal edges by the beveled surfaces 33 and 34 of the horizontally disposed shingling disks 21. The rotation of the shingling disks 21 on either side of the advancing web and the initial contact of the beveled surfaces 33 and 34 with the web forces the leading edge of the advancing web upwards out of the normal plane of travel of the web. The elevated leading edge of the web 13 is then momentarily supported on the flat portion 32 of the shingling disks 21 in the notches formed by steps 26 on disks 22 as is most clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The Web ll? continues to advance through the shingling assembly 17 being pushed along from the printing press. During this tim the web is free but guided along its longitudinal edges between the smaller radius section of vertical disks 22 and the upper surface of ramps 31 and sections 3% of horizontal disks 21. The radius of the smaller sections of disks 22 gradually increases away from steps 26 so that the web follows the ramps 31 and returns to the plane in which it normally travels until it moves downwardly below this level. When the steps 26 of disks 22 and the faces 33 of disks 21 have rotated 180 from the point at which they met the leading edge of the web the larger radius sections of the vertical disks 22 come into rolling contact with web 13 and cooperate with the corresponding level sections 30 of the rims of the horizontal disks 21 to grip the edges of the advancing web just as or immediately after it is severed, half of a card length away, by the rotary cutter. Disks 21 and 22 rotate at such speed that the severed card is fed thereby at a greater speed than the web is being pushed toward the disks and a gap is opened between the card and the advancing web. Thus, the card 42 is separated from the advancing web 13. The separated card 42 is fed through the shingling assembly driven by the shingling disks 21 and 22 toward the backstop 29. Just as or immediately before the card strikes backstop 20, the notches 35 in disks 21 come into registration below disks 22 thereby freeing the card to follow the set of vanes 38 on which it now rests. The dimensions of the card 42 and the spacing of the horizontal shingling disks 21 are such that the card subtends and rests on only small segments of the edges of the disks 21 thus making it possible for the card to move downward past the shingling disks 21 when it is released. The inclined portion of the undersurface of disks 22 engage the released trailing portion of the card and direct it downward out of the path of the edge of the advancing web 13 which will be shingled over it. The projection 28 on disk 23, in its rotation, follows the trailing end of each card 42 to ensure that it is out of the way of the leading edge of the web. Therefore, the shingling assembly 17 operates to lift the leading edge of an advancing web above its normal plane of travel allowing the web to pass through the assembly under its own power until a card is cut therefrom, then seizes the card and drives it through the shingling assembly and against a backstop, at which time it releases the card and forces its trailing edge downward out of the plane of travel of the advancing web, thus eliminating any possibility of interference between the leading edge of the advancing web and the trailing edge of the card previously severed therefrom.

The vanes of the conveyor assembly 19 associated with the shingling assembly 17 move downwardly in opposed pairs to form sets adjacent to the exit side of the shingling assembly. The conveyor is synchronized with the shingling assembly to position a set of vanes to receive each card as it is released by the shingling assembly. In this Way, each card exiting from the shingling assembly comes to rest on a downwardly moving pair of vanes 38. When the vanes of each set receive a card they are still passing around their sprockets 4i) and as shown in FIG. 6 continue to rotate until they arrive at the vertical portion of their courses, as shown. The vanes of each set are at their closest approach to one another along their vertical courses at Which time the edges of the card 42 rest On the vane shoulders 45. The free or inner edges of the vanes 38 of each set come to bear against the upper surface of the card 42 resting on the vanes of the preceding set thereby bowing and rigidifying the card. Thus, each of the cards 42 is accurately positioned and firmly held in the conveyor as it passes along the vertical course so that it may be measured or inspected if desired.

As the cards 42 are carried in the conveyor assembly each is maintained separate from the others on its own pair of supporting vanes 38, thus allowing the ink on the printed portions of the cards to dry without smudging. As the cards approach the lower end of the conveyor the curvature of a lower set of sprockets (not shown) causes the endless chains 39 and their associated vanes 38 to move away from the cards 42, thus releasing the cards from the conveyor and depositing them in a stack.

In this way the rapidly advancing freshly printed web issuing from a printing press can be cut into sheets, Shingled one card above the other without interference between the cards, the cards being kept separated until the inked portions are sufficiently dry to prevent smudging and the dried cards placed in a stack.

It is to be noted that in accordance with the present invention changes in the velocity of the card or blank formed from the rapidly moving web are timed to occur when the card is free to follow such changes without becoming distorted or marred. For example, acceleration of the card occurs when it is freed from the web by the cutter and downward movement takes place when the card is freed from the shingling disks. These advantages as well as the others provided by the present invention are attained by properly correlating the various parts. Thus, while the invention is advantageously described in connection with the present embodiment in which the shingling assembly is located one half a card length from the cutter it is obvious that the spacing may be varied as desired so long as the configurations of the shingling disks are adjusted accordingly. For example, when the shingling disks are positioned less than a half card length 5 away from the cutter the angular extent of the disks which provide for acceleration of the severed card Would be proportionately reduced.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for handling a continuous web travelling in one direction along a predetermined path at a predetermined speed, cutting means along said path for periodically severing said web and successively forming sheets therefrom having a predetermined length, means spaced along said path beyond said cutting means a distance less than said predetermined length for deflecting from said path the leading edge portion of said web upon its arrival at a predetermined position along said path and, at a predetermined interval thereafter and substantially coincident with the severing of said Web, for accelerating the severed sheet forming portion of said web so that the trailing edge of said severed sheet forming portion arrives at said predetermined position spaced in advance of the leading edge of the next successive sheet forming portion of said web, means for arresting movement of said severed sheet forming portion in said direction along said path substantially as the trailing edge thereof arrives at said predetermined position and for guiding it away from said path, whereby the leading edge of successive sheet forming portions of said web is overlapped in spaced relation to the next preceding sheet formed from said web. 1

2. In an apparatus for handling a continuous web travelling in one direction along a predetermined path at a predetermined speed, cutting means along said path for periodically severing said web and successively forming sheets therefrom having a predetermined length, means spaced along said path beyond said cutting means 40 a distance less than said predetermined length for deflecting from said path the leading edge portion of said web upon its arrival at a predetermined position along said path while leaving the same free to continue at said predetermined speed along said path, means for accelerating substantially coincident with the severing of said web the severed sheet forming portion of said web so that the trailing edge thereof arrives at said predetermined position spaced in advance of the leading edge of the next successive sheet forming portion of said web, means for an resting movement of the severed sheet forming portion in said direction along said path substantially as the trailing edge thereof arrives at said position and for guiding it away from said path, whereby the leading edge of successive sheet forming portions of said web is overlapped in spaced relation to the next preceding sheet formed from said web.

3. In an apparatus for handling a continuous web travelling in one direction along a predetermined path at a predetermined speed, cutting means along said path for periodically severing said web and successively forming sheets therefrom having a predetermined length, means spaced along said path beyond said cutting means a distance less than said predetermined length for deflecting from said path the leading edge portion of said web upon its arrival at a predetermined position along said path and, at a predetermined interval thereafter and substantially coincident with the severing of said web, for accelerating the severed sheet forming portion of said web so that the trailing edge of a first sheet arrives at 70 said predetermined position spaced in advance of the leading edge of the next successive sheet forming portion of said web, means for arresting movement of the severed sheet forming portion in said direction along said path substantially as the trailing edge thereof arrives at 75 said predetermined position, means forming an array of spaced sheet receivers adapted to receive said severed sheet forming portions and maintain them in mutually spaced face-to-face relation, and means for moving said sheet receivers in timed relation to the arrival of the trailing edge of each successive severed :sheet forming portion at said predetermined position to receive successive severed sheet forming portions as the motion of each in said direction is arrested and carry them away from said path.

4. In an apparatus for handling a continuous Web travelling in one direction along a predetermined path at a predetermined speed, cutting means along said path for periodically severing said web and successively forming sheets therefrom having a predetermined length, first rotatable means mounted along said path beyond said cutting menas, said first rotatable means having a portion thereof projecting out of its plane, means for rotating said first rotatable means so as to periodically carry said projection into a predetermined position in said path in timed relationship to the arrival of the severed leading edge portion of said web at said predetermined position, said predetermined position being spaced along said path beyond said cutting means a distance equal to substantial 1y half said length, whereby said projection deflects the leading edge of said web out of said path, second rotatable means positioned to coact with said first rotatable means and so that said path extends therebetwecn, means for rotating said second rotatable means in synchronism with said first rotatable means, said second rotatable means being spaced from said first rotatable means so as to permit the deflected portion of said web to pass freely therebetween, said first and second rotatable means being adapted to engage and accelerate a severed sheet forming portion of said web substantially coincident with the severing of the same from said web by said cutting means whereby the trailing edge of the severed sheet arrives at said predetermined position spaced in advance of the leading edge of the next successive sheet forming portion of said web, sheet receiving means on opposite sides of said path on the side of said first and second rotatable means away from said cutting means, said sheet receiving means comprising a plurality of sheet receivers arranged in two arrays one on each side of said path and means for moving said sheet receivers in timed sequence so that corresponding ones thereof in said arrays arrive adjacent said path in position to receive each of the severed sheet forming portions of said web as its trailing edge passes said predetermined position, and means on the side of said sheet receiving means away from said first and second rotatable means for arresting movement of each of the severed sheet forming portions of said web in said direction along said path substantially simultaneously as the trailing edge thereof arrives at said predetermined position.

5. In an apparatus for handling a sheet of predetermined length travelling in one direction along a predetermined path at a predetermined speed, first and second annular members juxtaposed with said path extending therebetween, said first annular member having a projection formed therein, said second annular member having a step formed therein, means for rotating said annular members so that said projection and step periodically register in close spaced relation one with the other at a predetermined position in said path and in timed relation to the arrival of the leading edge of a sheet travelling said path at said predetermined position so that said projection deflects the leading edge portion of said sheet towards said step and out of said path while leaving said sheet free to travel in said diretion and said first and second annular members each having an extended arcuate portion thereof corresponding to a half length of said sheet adapted to engage therebetween the trailing half portion of said sheet and propel the same along said path in said direction.

6, In an apparatus for handling a sheet of predeten mined length travelling in one direction along a predetermined path at a predetermined speed, first and second annular members juxtaposed with said path extending therebetween, said first annular member having a projection formed therein, said second annular member having a step formed therein, means for rotating said annular members so that said projection and step periodically register in close spaced relation one with the other at a predetermined position in said path and in timed relation to the arrival of the leading edge of a sheet travelling said path at said predetermined position so that said projection deflects the leading edge portion of said sheet towards said step and out of said path while leaving said sheet free to travel in said direction and said first and second annular members each having an extended arcuate portion thereof corresponding to a half length of said sheet adapted to engage therebetween the trailing half portion of said sheet and propel the same along said path in said direction, one of said extended arcuate portions having a radius which is larger than that of the remaining part of the annular member of which it forms a portion.

7. In an apparatus for handling sheets of predetermined length travelling in one direction along a predetermined path at a predetermined speed, a first annular member juxtaposed to said path and mounted for rotation in a plane parallel to the plane of a sheet travelling said path, said first annular member having an inclined projection formed thereon adjacent to the periphery thereof, means for rotating said first annular member to carry said projection into and out of a predetermined position in said path with each revolution thereof, a second annular member mounted for rotation in a plane normal to said first annular member and having its surface juxtaposed to the peripheral portion of said first annular member so that a sheet travelling said path passes therebetween, said second annular member having a step formed in the periphery thereof for registration with said projection, means for rotating said second annular member so that said step registers at said predetermined position in close spaced relation with said projection in each revolution thereof, said first and second annular members being rotated in timed relation to the arrival of the leading edge of a sheet travelling said path at said predetermined position so that said projection deflects the leading edge portion thereof towards said step and out of said path, said first and second annular members each having a first arcuate portion thereof, corresponding substantially to a half length of one of said sheets, following respectively said projection and step in their revolution relative to said predetermined position and adapted to leave said sheet free to travel at said predetermined speed for a distance equal to substantially half its length and said first and second annular members each having a second arcuate portion thereof, corresponding substantially to a half length of said sheet, following said first portions in their revolution passed said predetermined position and adapted to engage the trailing half portion of said sheet therebetween and accelerate it along said path.

8. In an apparatus for handling sheets of predetermined length travelling in one direction along a predetermined path at a predetermined speed, a first annular member juxtaposed to said path and mounted for rotation in a plane parallel to the plane of a sheet travelling said path, said first annular member having an inclined projection formed thereon adjacent to the periphery thereof, means for rotating said first annular member to carry said projection into and out of a predetermined position in said path with each revolution thereof, a second annular member mounted for rotation in a plane normal to said first annular member and having its surfaces juxtaposed to the peripheral portion of said first annular member so that a sheet travelling said path passes therebetween, said second annular member having a step formed in the periphery thereof for registration with said projec tions, means for rotating said second annular member so that said step registers at said predetermined position in close spaced relation with said projection in each revolution thereof, said first and second annular members being rotated in timed relation to the arrival of the leading edge of a sheet travelling said path at said predetermined position so that said projection deflects the leading edge portion thereof towards said step and out of said path, said second annular member having substantially half thereof formed with a radius larger than the remainder thereof and oriented to precede said step in its rotation past said predetermined position, the larger radius portion of said second annular member having a peripheral extent corresponding to substantially half said length and being adapted to engage the trailing half of a sheet for accelerating the same along said path.

9. In an apparatus for handling sheets of predetermined length travelling in one direction along a predetermined path at a predetermined speed, two sets of annular means juxtaposed to said path with one set on a side of said path opposite from that of the other set, each of said sets comprising first and second annular members in juxtaposed relation with said path extending therebetween, said first annular members each having a projection formed therein, said second annular mem- 'bers each having a step formed therein, means for rotating the first and second annular members of each set so that the projections and steps of the associated first and second annular members periodically register in close spaced relation one with the other at a predetermined position in said path and in timed relation to the arrival of the leading edge of a sheet travelling said path at said predetermined position whereby said projections deflect the leading edge portion of said sheet towards said steps and out of said path while leaving said sheet free to travel in said direction, said first and second annular members each having a first arcuate portion thereof, corresponding substantially to a half length of one of said sheets, following respectively said projections and steps in their revolution relative to said predetermined position and adapted to leave said sheet free to travel at said predetermined speed for a distance equal to substantially half its length, and said first and second annular members each having a second arcuate portion thereof, corresponding substantially to a half length of said sheet, following said first portions in their revolution past said predetermined position and adapted to engage the trailing half portion of said sheet and accelerate it along said path.

10. In an apparatus for handling a continuous web travelling in one direction along a predetermined path at a predetermined speed, cutting means along said path for periodically severing said web and successively forming sheets therefrom having a predetermined length, two sets of annular means juxtaposed to said path beyond said cutting means at a distance equal to substantially half of said length and with one set on a side of said path opposite from that of said other set, each of said sets comprising first and second annular members in juxtaposed relation with said path extending therebetween, said first annular members each having a projection formed therein, said second annular members each having a step formed therein, means for rotating the first and second annular members of each set so that the projections and steps of the associated first and second annular members periodically register in close spaced relation one with the other at a predetermined position in said path and in timed relation to the arrival of the leading edge of a sheet travelling said path at said predetermined position so that said projections defiect the leading edge portion of said sheet towards said steps and out of said path while leaving said sheet free to travel in said direction, said first and second annular members each having a first arcuate portion thereof, corresponding substantially to a half length of one of said sheets, following respectively said projections and steps in their revolution relative to said predetermined position and adapted to leave said sheet free to travel at said predetermined speed for a distance equal to substantially half its length, and said first and second annular members each having a second arcuate portion thereof, corresponding substantially to a half length of said sheet, following said first portions in their revolution past said predetermined position and adapted to engage the trailing half portion of said sheet and accelerate it along said path, means substantially a sheet length beyond said predetermined position for arresting motion of said severed sheet in said direction along said path substantially as the trailing edge thereof arrives at said predetermined position, means forming two endless arrays for receiving in succession said severed sheets and maintaining them in mutually spaced face-to face relation, each of said arrays including a plurality of spaced elongated vanes, means for moving said arrays with the vanes of one array in alignment with the corresponding vanes of the other an ray and in timed relation to the arrival of the trailing edge of successive severed sheets at said predetermined position so that corresponding pairs of vanes of said arrays are in position adjacent said path to receive one of said severed sheets as the motion of each in said direction is arrested and carry them away from said path.

11. In an apparatus for handling a continuous web travelling in one direction along a predetermined path at a predetermined speed, cutting means along said path for periodically severing said web and successively forming sheets therefrom having a predetermined length, two sets of annular means juxtaposed to said path beyond said cutting means at a distance equal to substantially half of said length and with one set on a side of said path opposite from that of said other set, each of said sets comprising first and second annular members in juxtaposed relation with said path extending therebetween, said first annular members each having a projection formed therein, said second annular members each having a step formed therein, means for rotating the first and second annular members of each set so that the projections and steps of the associated first and second annular members periodically register in close spaced relation one with the other at a predetermined position in said path and in timed relation to the arrival of the leading edge of a sheet travelling said path at said predetermined position so that said projections deflect the leading edge portion of said sheet towards said steps and out of said path while leaving said sheet free to travel in said direction, said first and second annular members each having a first arcuate portion thereof, corresponding substantially to a half length of one of said sheets, following respectively said projections and steps in their revolution relative to said predetermined position and adapted to leave said sheet free to travel at said predetermined speed for a distance equal to substantially half its length, and said first and second annular members each having a second arcuate portion thereof, corresponding substantially to a half length of said sheet, following said first portions in their revolution past said predetermined position and adapted to engage the trailing half portion of said sheet and accelerate it along said path, means substantially a sheet length beyond said predetermined position for arresting motion of said severed sheet in said direction along said path substantially as the trailing edge thereof arrives at said predetermined position, means forming two endless arrays of sheet receivers having opposed linear courses extending in a direction normal to said path and having arcua-te courses merging into said linear courses adjacent to said path, each of said arrays comprising a plurality of spaced elongated vanes, each of said vanes having a shoulder portion formed therein adapted to receive thereon a severed sheet forming por- 15311 of said web, means for travelling said vanes along their respective courses with the vanes along one linear course aligned with corresponding vanes along the other linear course and so that said vanes move through an arc adjacent to said path in timed relation to the arrival of the trailing edge of each successive severed sheet at said predetermined position to receive said successive severed sheets substantially as the motion thereof in said direction is arrested, each of said vanes extending toward the vane preceding it in its travel along said linear course and beyond the shoulder portion thereof.

12. In an apparatus for handling a continuous web travelling in one direction along a predetermined path at a predetermined speed, cutting means along said path for periodically severing said web and successively forming sheets therefrom having a predetermined length, two sets of annular means juxtaposed to said path beyond said cutting means at a distance equal to substantially half of said length and with one set on a side of said path opposite from that of said other set, each of said sets comprising first and second annular members in juxtaposed relation with said path extending therebetween, said first annular members each having a projection formed therein, said second annular members each having a step formed therein, means for rotating the first and second annular members of each set so that the projections and steps of the associated first and second annular members periodically register in close spaced relation one with the other at a predetermined position in said path and in timed relation to the arrival of the leading edge of a sheet travelling said path at said predetermined position so that said projections deflect the leading edge portion of said sheet towards said steps and out of said path while leaving said sheet free to travel in said direction, said first and second annular members each having a first arcuate portion thereof, corresponding substantially to a half length of one of said sheets, following respectively said projections and steps in their revolution relative to said predetermined position and adapted to leave said sheet free to travel at said predetermined speed for a distance equal to substantially half its length, and said first and second annular members each having a second arcuate portion thereof, corresponding substantially to a half length of said sheet, following said first portions in their revolution past said predetermined position and adapted to engage the trailing half portion of said sheet and accelerate it along said path, a third annular member mounted adjacent said path intermediate said two sets of annular means, said third annular member being spaced from said path and having a projection extending from the periphery thereof adapted to intercept said path, and means for rotating said third annular memher so that said projection thereof is synchronized with said steps to normally intercept said path. in the space between the trailing edge of said severed sheet and the leading edge of the next successive sheet forming portion of said web, means substantially a sheet length beyond said predetermined position for arresting motion of said sheet in said direction along said path substantially as the trailing edge thereof arrives at said predetermined position, means forming two endless arrays for receiving in succession said severed sheet forming portions and maintaining them in mutually spaced face-to-face relation, each of said arrays including a plurality of spaced elongated vanes, means for moving said arrays with the vanes of one array in alignment with the corresponding vanes of the other array and in timed relation to the arrival of the trailing edge of successive severed sheet forming portion at said predetermined position so that corresponding pairs of vanes of said arrays are in position adjacent said path to receive one of said severed sheet forming portions as the motion of each in said direction is arrested and carry them away from said path.

13. In an apparatus in which sheets are fed in succession along a predetermined path to a predetermined position, means forming two endless arrays of sheet receivers having opposed linear courses extending in a direction normal to said path and having arcuate courses merging into said linear courses adjacent to said path, each of said arrays comprising a plurality of spaced elongated vanes, each of said vanes having a shoulder portion formed therein, means for travelling said vanes along their respective courses with the vanes in one array aligned with corresponding vanes in the other array and so that said vanes move through an arc adjacent to said path and in timed relation to the arrival of each successive sheet at said predetermined position to receive said sheets in oneby-one relation on the shoulder portions of successive pairs of aligned vanes, each of said vanes extending toward the vane preceding it in its travel along said linear course and beyond the shoulder portion thereof, whereby a sheet supported on the shoulder portions of one aligned pair of vanes is engaged by the vanes of the next following pair of aligned vanes.

14. In an apparatus in which sheets are fed in succession along a predetermined path to a predetermined position, means forming two endless arrays of sheet receivers having opposed linear courses extending away from said path and having arcuate courses merging into said linear courses adjacent to said path, each of said arrays comprising a plurality of spaced elongated vanes, each of said vanes having a shoulder portion formed therein, means for travelling said vanes along their respective courses with the vanes in one array aligned with corresponding vanes in the other array and so that said vanes move through an arc adjacent to said path and in timed relation to the arrival of each successive sheet at said predetermined position to receive said sheets in one-by-one relation on the shoulder portions of successive pairs of aligned vanes, each of said vanes extending toward the vane preceding it in its travel along said linear course and beyond the shoulder portion thereof, whereby a sheet supported on the shoulder portions of one aligned pair of vanes is engaged by the vanes of the next following pair of aligned vanes.

15. In an apparatus for handling a continuous web travelling in one direction along a predetermined path at a predetermined speed, cutting means along said path for severing said web and forming sheets therefrom having a predetermined length, means along said path spaced in said direction from said cutting means and for accelerating said sheets along said path for a predetermined interval, arresting means for stopping motion of said sheets in said direction following the termination of said interval, carrier means intermediate said arresting means and the accelerating means and forming two spaced arrays each of which comprises a plurality of spaced vanes and including means for applying tension to said sheets to maintain said sheets in mutually spaced predetermined relation, means along said path in advance of said carrier means and for overlapping in spaced relation the leading edge of a sheet forming portion with the trailing edge portion of an arrested sheet, and means for driving said carrier means in timed relationship to the stopping of the motion of successive sheets in said direction to successively position corresponding vanes of each of said arrays to receive said sheets in one-by-one relation thereon.

16. In an apparatus for handling a continuous web travelling in one direction along a predetermined path at a predetermined speed, cutting means along said path for severing said web and forming sheets therefrom having a predetermined length, arresting means along said path spaced in said direction from said cutting means and for stopping motion of said sheets in said direction, deflecting and accelerating means along said path intermediate said cutting means and said arresting means and comprising first and second annular member-s, said first annular member being mounted for rotation in a plane substantially parallel with and adjacent to said path and having a projection formed thereon adapted upon rotation of said first annular member to periodically intercept said path at a predetermined position therealong, said first annular member having a notch formed therein on one side of said projection, means supporting and for rotating said first and second annular members in mutually opposed relation with said path extending therebetween and with said projection registering with said predetermined position substantially coincident with the arrival of the leading edge of said web at said predetermined position and said notch registering with said second annular member at said predetermined position substantially coincident with the arrival of the trailing edge of a sheet thereat, said first and second annular members having portions thereof, preceding said notch in its rotation past said predetermined position, adapted to engage and accelerate a sheet passing thereby along said path toward said arresting means, carrier means intermediate said arresting means and said deflecting and accelerating means and forming two spaced arrays each of which comprises a plurality of spaced vanes and adapted to tension said sheets in mutually spaced relation, said deflecting and accelerating means serving to overlap in spaced relation the leading edge of a sheet forming portion with the trailing edge portion of an arrested sheet, and means for driving said carrier means in timed relationship to the stopping of the motion of successive sheets in said direction to successively position corresponding vanes of each of said arrays to receive said sheets in one-by-one relation thereon.

17. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 16, said defleeting and accelerating means opening a gap along said path between the trailing edge of the sheet accelerated thereby and the next successive leading edge sheet portion following the same along said path, a third member having a projection formed thereon, means supporting said third member adjacent to said path on the side thereof away from said first annular member and for rotating the same in timed relationship to the movement of said web along said path so that said last mentioned projection normally intercepts said"'path substantially at said predetermined position in registration with said gap.

:18. In an apparatus for handling a continuous web travelling in one direction along a predetermined path at a predetermined speed, cutting means along said path for severing said web and forming sheets therefrom having a predetermined length, arresting means along said path spaced in said direction substantially a sheet length from said cutting means and for stopping motion of said sheets in said direction, deflecting and accelerating means along said path intermediate said cutting means and said arresting means spaced substantially one half sheet length from said cutting means and comprising first and second annular members, said first annular member being mounted for rotation in a plane substantially parallel with and adjacent to said path and having a projection formed thereon adapted upon rotation of said first annular memher to periodically intercept said path at a predetermined position therealong, said first annular member having a notch formed therein on one side of said projection, means supporting and for rotating said first and second annular members in mutually opposed relation with said path extending therebetween and with said projection registering with said predetermined position substantially coincident with the arrival of the leading edge of said web at said predetermined position and said notch registering with said second annular member at said predetermined position substantially coincident with the arrival of the trailing edge of a sheet thereat, said first annular member having a diameter such that said projection in its rotation travels through a distance substantially equal to said sheet length, said first and second annular members having portions thereof, preceding said notch in its rotation past said predetermined position, adapted to engage and accelerate a sheet passing thereby along said path toward said arresting means, said last mentioned portions each having an extent substantially equal to one half said sheet length, carrier means intermediate said arresting means and said deflecting and accelerating means and forming two spaced arrays each of which comprises a plurality of spaced vanes and adapted to tension said sheets in mutually spaced relation, said deflecting and accelerating means serving to overlap in spaced relation the leading edge of a sheet forming portion with the trailing edge portion of an arrested sheet, and means for driving said carrier means in timed relationship to the stopping of the motion of successive sheets in said direction to successively position corresponding vanes of each of said arrays to receive said sheets in one-by-one relation thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Allis May 6, Willsea Apr. 24, Overbury et al. Dec. 1, Spiess Oct. 18, Melnick May 30, Mandusic Aug. 6, Cobb Mar. 18, Heywood Dec. 7, 

